A Rejection Just Like Five Years AgoUpon hearing this, Xue Qinghe frowned imperceptibly. She was currently doing a good job of infiltrating the Heavenly Dou Empire, and if her plan proceeded smoothly, she would be able to ascend the throne in a short time. Why, at such a crucial moment, did an envoy from her grandfather suddenly appear?
"Uncle She, who is that messenger? Where is he now?"
Serpent Spear Douluo's face showed an unnatural expression. Before coming, the High Priest had not told him the identity of the envoy. Even he had only just learned the envoy's address from Salas.
"Young Master, I don't know who that envoy is, but he is already waiting for you at one of our strongholds outside Tiandou City."
Xue Qinghe's expression changed several times, and after a long while, he said in a deep voice:
"Okay, Uncle She, I'll go right away."
Serpent Spear Douluo nodded, and then a person who looked exactly like Xue Qinghe stepped out from behind Serpent Spear Douluo and silently entered the royal carriage.
Xue Qinghe followed Serpent Spear Douluo out of the palace. The guards, upon seeing Xue Qinghe and his group, seemed oblivious, their eyes fixed straight ahead. Serpent Spear Douluo and his party, like ghosts, left the palace. These guards were all from the Spirit Hall.
They boarded the carriage that had been prepared beforehand, and the carriage slowly drove towards the outskirts of Tiandou City.
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The stronghold outside Tiandou City.
This is an ordinary wooden house, quite old, but it is regularly maintained, so it doesn't smell of decay.
After looking around the room for a while, Dai Yao walked to the window and looked at the lush trees around him, and couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
This time, because it was a top-secret mission of the Spirit Hall, Dai Yao did not meet with anyone from the Azure Lotus Sect or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. In fact, no one around him knew that he had come to the Heaven Dou Empire.
"The Grand Elder sent me to the Heaven Dou Empire to assist Qian Renxue in her palace coup, partly to win me over and partly to leverage my power in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Azure Lotus School. However, when the Azure Lotus School was first established, I promised them that, apart from my revenge against the Star Luo Empire, the Azure Lotus School would always remain neutral."
"So, needless to say, we can't help Xue Qinghe."
"However, even without my help, with Xue Qinghe's current strength, and without the assistance of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, Dugu Bo, and the four major single-attribute clans, Tang San would never be able to defeat Qian Renxue and thwart the Spirit Hall's plan as in the original story."
"Now, the most important thing is to obtain the Vast Ocean Universe Cover. The Vast Ocean Universe Cover is one of the three national treasures of the Heaven Dou Empire, and it will not be easy to obtain it."
Dai Yao frowned, finding a way to obtain the Vast Ocean Universe Cover was a real headache for him.
If all else fails, he can use the Chaotic Azure Lotus Martial Soul and its teleportation ability to steal from the national treasury. Of course, this is a last resort; the consequences of using the Chaotic Azure Lotus Martial Soul are unpredictable.
The first time he used the Chaos Azure Lotus Martial Soul in front of outsiders was when he was being pursued by Di Tian and was forced to use it. This led to him being targeted by the Soul Beast Clan.
Outside the window, dark clouds gradually rose, obscuring the moon in the night sky. The chirping of insects also gradually subsided, and a cold night wind woke Dai Yao.
Am I being too optimistic?
His brows furrowed suddenly.
If we look at it according to the original plot, Dai Yao's thinking is indeed not wrong. However, is what he is experiencing now still the original plot? Because of his influence, the plot has been fragmented. Although it still resembles the original work to some extent, it has changed.
Moreover, Tang San's wife's spirit ring and soul are both in his own hands.
Moreover, because of the newly emerged soul beast forces, Dai Yao's relationship with Bibi Dong has become increasingly distant. Although his relationship with Qian Daoliu has become slightly closer, would the soul beast race be willing to see this situation happen?
If they want me to agree to their conditions, they must force me to become isolated and desperate, leaving me with no choice but to agree to the Soul Beast Clan's demands.
Thinking this through, Dai Yao suddenly understood the Soul Beast Clan's plan. They would never allow him to help Qian Renxue complete the palace coup. This plan would definitely not go so smoothly!
The frustration and resentment of being constantly schemed against and powerless to retaliate reignited Dai Yao's thirst for power. If he were stronger, how dare the soul beast race be so arrogant?!
However, no matter how much Dai Yao thought about it, he couldn't figure out what way the Soul Beast Clan could possibly prevent Qian Renxue from completing the palace coup.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, led by Dugu Bo, controls all four major single-attribute clans except for the Power Clan, making it impossible for them to help Tang San. The Clear Sky Clan is trapped at its gates by the Second Elder and cannot escape. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan only has one Title Douluo, making them insignificant.
"Could it be that Di Tian and the others are going to personally come out of the Star Dou Great Forest to stop Qian Renxue?"
Dai Yao could only think of this one possibility, and then he shook his head:
"Impossible. If Di Tian really dares to do that, then he has no desire to live. Once the hidden power of the soul beast is exposed, not to mention the gods of the God Realm, even the current Spirit Hall will absolutely not allow the power of the soul beast to reach such a terrifying level."
Although he didn't know what methods the Soul Beast race would use, Dai Yao had to remain vigilant.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. One long knock followed by two short knocks, repeated three times. Dai Yao knew that he and his companions had arrived.
"Come in."
The wooden door opened, and Xue Qinghe slowly walked in. She glanced around the wooden house for a few moments before fixing her gaze on the person wearing a mask.
"Are you the messenger sent by the High Priest?"
Xue Qinghe said calmly.
"Yes."
"Now that you've seen me, aren't you going to take off your mask?"
Xue Qinghe's tone carried a hint of dissatisfaction.
Although he was her grandfather's special envoy, he didn't remove his mask upon seeing her, which displeased her. She didn't understand why a special envoy had to be so secretive!
To meet this special envoy, she personally went out of the city to greet him. Even though she had made thorough preparations and sent a double back to the palace so that no one would notice anything amiss, it still increased the risk of exposure.
Upon hearing this, Dai Yao slowly removed the mask from his head, revealing a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar to Xue Qinghe.
"Your Highness, it's been a long time."
Dai Yao looked at Xue Qinghe and smiled. Back then, Xue Qinghe desperately wanted to recruit him, but he refused because he was determined to join the Spirit Hall. Now, when they meet again, their identities have changed.
Back then, one was the crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, and the other was a wandering genius; but now, the former crown prince of the Heaven Dou Empire was actually a spy for the Spirit Hall, and the other had become a member of the Spirit Hall, and was now sent by the Grand Elder as a special envoy.
Now that they are all from the Spirit Hall, they can't help but feel a little different when they meet.
Xue Qinghe's pupils contracted slightly. After a moment, she couldn't help but laugh, staring at Dai Yao and saying:
"I never expected that the Grand Elder's special envoy would be you! Five years after we parted, we would meet again in this capacity."
Before she came, she had been talking about Dai Yao. She planned to return to the Spirit Hall and recruit him again after she completed her plan to overthrow the Heaven Dou Empire. To her surprise, Dai Yao appeared before her immediately, and as her grandfather's special envoy.
"I never expected that the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire was actually a spy planted by the Spirit Hall."
Dai Yao feigned surprise.
Although he already knew Xue Qinghe's identity, he still had to pretend that he had just found out.
Xue Qinghe looked Dai Yao up and down. Although Dai Yao did not release any aura, Xue Qinghe had a feeling that Dai Yao was dangerous.
Keep in mind that she was nearly ten years older than Dai Yao, and possessed a divine-level six-winged angel martial soul with innate level twenty soul power. These were the things that gave her confidence. She often compared herself to the geniuses constantly emerging on the continent. If she hadn't been hidden within the Heaven Dou Empire, there probably wouldn't be a single person of her age on the continent who could compare to her.
Now, Dai Yao is almost ten years younger than her, yet he can give her a sense of danger.
There was only one possibility: Dai Yao's strength had approached hers! This thought was unbelievable to her. How had Dai Yao done that?!
Xue Qinghe narrowed his eyes slightly and said:
"It seems you've made great progress in the past few years at the Spirit Hall. But let's not talk about that now. Tell me, what exactly did the High Elder send you here for?"
Dai Yao paused slightly and took out the Angel Token. The moment the Angel Token was taken out, Xue Qinghe's gaze was fixed on it. She sensed an extremely rich aura of light emanating from the token. This was something only those with the bloodline of the six-winged angel race could sense.
Dai Yao said slowly:
"The Grand Elder sent me here so that you could launch a palace coup as soon as possible and return to the Spirit Hall. Because I have close ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, he wants me to assist you in completing the mission."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xue Qinghe immediately shifted his gaze from the Angel's Token to Dai Yao's face, his expression gradually darkening.
"You mean, the Grand Elder wants me to launch a palace coup ahead of schedule?"
Dai Yao nodded.
He knew this was news Qian Renxue really didn't want to hear. After all, she had been infiltrating the Heavenly Dou Empire since she was nine years old, dedicating the best years of her life to this plan. If the uprising were to start prematurely, the risk of exposure would increase dramatically.
If she fails, all her years of hard work will be for nothing.
How could she be willing to accept that?
Xue Qinghe stared intently at Dai Yao, and in her pupils, Dai Yao saw the turbulent emotions within her. Xue Qinghe gritted her teeth slightly and said:
"Why launch a palace coup in advance? Doesn't the Grand Master know how much risk this is taking?"
Dai Yao pretended to know nothing and said, "I don't know, but the Grand Elder has told me several times that time is running out. Perhaps that's why he wants you to go back quickly."
Xue Qinghe was taken aback, as if she understood something. As a peerless Douluo, Qian Daoliu was still far from his limit. When he said that his time was running out, he must have been referring to her mother, Bibi Dong, who inherited the Rakshasa Godhood.
Although she was in the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, she had vaguely heard that Bibi Dong's strength was increasing rapidly, and even her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, couldn't do anything to her. Since Qian Daoliu was under threat, and Bibi Dong would soon inherit the Rakshasa Godhood, she needed to return to the Spirit Hall as soon as possible to inherit the Angel Godhood.
After a long pause, Xue Qinghe said in a deep voice:
"Okay, I'll finish the task as soon as possible. However, I don't need your help."
This mission was the culmination of half her life's work, and she wanted to bring it to a perfect conclusion herself. For Dai Yao to interfere would be a desecration of this mission. More importantly, although she had launched the palace coup prematurely, she was absolutely certain she wouldn't fail.
Dai Yao shrugged indifferently. He never wanted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the Azure Lotus School to get involved. Qian Renxue was so arrogant that she didn't need his help, which suited his wishes perfectly.
"Alright, then I won't interfere."
Sensing the underlying reluctance in Dai Yao's tone, Xue Qinghe's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. She felt a surge of displeasure; no one had ever dared to display such an attitude before her.
"Dai Yao, five years ago, I asked you if you would be willing to become my subordinate, but you said you wanted to join the Spirit Hall, so you refused. Now that you know my identity, I can also tell you frankly that I am the daughter of the former Pope, and the current Grand Elder of the Hall of Worship is my grandfather."
"My real name is Qian Renxue."
"I will ask you one more time: are you willing to submit to me? If you do, I can give you a position second only to the emperor, above all others. What do you say?"
Xue Qinghe slowly spread his hands, his slightly smiling face concealing an unapproachable majesty and aloof indifference.
Dai Yao frowned. He no longer harbored any thoughts of submitting to anyone. After countless hardships and displacements, he now only wanted to take control of his own destiny.
But he still pretended to be surprised, as if he were learning Xue Qinghe's identity for the first time. After a long while, as if he had recovered from his shock, he said:
"I'm sorry, Xueqing... Qian Renxue. I have no intention of submitting to anyone. I appreciate your kindness."
Xue Qinghe looked Dai Yao up and down as if she were seeing him in a completely new light. Five years ago, Dai Yao rejected her, and now he rejected her again. If Qian Renxue had been somewhat indifferent to the rejection five years ago, this time, Dai Yao's rejection had left a deep impression on her.
You see, this time, she had told Dai Yao her identity, but Dai Yao still rejected her without hesitation. It was as if her identity and her promises held no appeal whatsoever.
"Dai Yao, very good. You are the only person in all these years who has rejected me twice."
Xue Qinghe smiled, her eyes slightly narrowed, a surge of desire to conquer Dai Yao rising within her. Especially since Dai Yao was a subject of her nominal mother, Bibi Dong; for her, subduing Dai Yao held a special significance.
She proved that she was superior to Bibi Dong. That's why Dai Yao betrayed Bibi Dong and became her subordinate.
Dai Yao was taken aback: "So, there's someone who has rejected Princess Qian Renxue before?"
Xue Qinghe laughed:
"That's right, it's your former rival, Tang San. Back then, you two both refused my invitation, but now he has taken the initiative to come to me and submit to me."
Dai Yao never expected that Tang San, who swore to never submit to Qian Renxue in the original story, would now be completely convinced and become like her. If Qian Renxue understood what happened in the original story, she would surely be filled with emotion.
"Alright, since you are, after all, a special envoy sent by Grandpa, you will stay by my side for the time being and assist me in completing the palace coup. However, you must keep your disguise up so that Tang San doesn't see through you."
Qian Renxue gave the instructions.
Dai Yao pondered for a moment, then followed Qian Renxue into the Heavenly Dou Imperial Palace. This would provide a good opportunity to make contact with the Vast Ocean Universe Cover, so he agreed. (End of Chapter)